Deputies: Woman raped in woods as she walks home near DeLand

Published: Monday, July 29, 2013 at 2:21 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 29, 2013 at 9:12 p.m.

Sheriff’s officials charged a man with rape late Monday afternoon after a 31-year-old woman was attacked near DeLand, a sheriff’s spokesman said.

The woman reported to deputies that she was raped as she was walking home from a friend’s house just after 9 p.m. Sunday. She was on State Road 11 near Wade Street and Rosewood Avenue north of DeLand when a stranger approached her and began talking to her and then suddenly grabbed her and dragged her into some woods, said sheriff’s spokesman Gary Davidson.

The victim identified her attacker Monday afternoon in a photo lineup, and that person is 23-year-old Yovani Cruz-Torres of an unknown address, Davidson said.

Cruz-Torres was charged with sexual battery, aggravated battery, resisting an officer without violence, smuggling contraband into a detention facility and possession of marijuana under 20 grams.

The woman said Cruz-Torres punched her in the face several times and raped her, Davidson said.

The woman escaped and flagged down a motorist. The motorist took her home and then she went to Florida Hospital DeLand for her injuries. Deputies who were canvassing the area where the attack took place came upon Cruz-Torres, who fit the description. He was extremely sweaty and the knees of his blue jeans were covered in dirt. His zipper was also open, Davidson said.

In addition, a deputy and his K-9 discovered several pieces of evidence linked to the attack, Davidson said.

Cruz-Torrez was placed into custody Sunday on a charge of resisting an officer after he repeatedly attempted to walk away and pull away from a deputy who had detained him for questioning. On Sunday night, the woman was in the hospital, medicated and in no condition to make a positive identification of the suspect. However, on Monday, after her release from the hospital, sheriff’s investigators presented a photo lineup to the woman. When she saw Cruz-Torrez’s picture, the she started crying and told investigators that was the man who attacked her, Davidson said.

Marijuana was found on Cruz-Torrez by corrections staff at the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach during a pat down, Davidson said.

Cruz-Torres was initially booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on $41,500 bail and was in court for his first appearance late Monday afternoon, a booking officer said.

<p>Sheriff's officials charged a man with rape late Monday afternoon after a 31-year-old woman was attacked near DeLand, a sheriff's spokesman said. </p><p> The woman reported to deputies that she was raped as she was walking home from a friend's house just after 9 p.m. Sunday. She was on State Road 11 near Wade Street and Rosewood Avenue north of DeLand when a stranger approached her and began talking to her and then suddenly grabbed her and dragged her into some woods, said sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson. </p><p> The victim identified her attacker Monday afternoon in a photo lineup, and that person is 23-year-old Yovani Cruz-Torres of an unknown address, Davidson said. </p><p> Cruz-Torres was charged with sexual battery, aggravated battery, resisting an officer without violence, smuggling contraband into a detention facility and possession of marijuana under 20 grams. </p><p> The woman said Cruz-Torres punched her in the face several times and raped her, Davidson said. </p><p> The woman escaped and flagged down a motorist. The motorist took her home and then she went to Florida Hospital DeLand for her injuries. Deputies who were canvassing the area where the attack took place came upon Cruz-Torres, who fit the description. He was extremely sweaty and the knees of his blue jeans were covered in dirt. His zipper was also open, Davidson said. </p><p> In addition, a deputy and his K-9 discovered several pieces of evidence linked to the attack, Davidson said. </p><p> Cruz-Torrez was placed into custody Sunday on a charge of resisting an officer after he repeatedly attempted to walk away and pull away from a deputy who had detained him for questioning. On Sunday night, the woman was in the hospital, medicated and in no condition to make a positive identification of the suspect. However, on Monday, after her release from the hospital, sheriff's investigators presented a photo lineup to the woman. When she saw Cruz-Torrez's picture, the she started crying and told investigators that was the man who attacked her, Davidson said. </p><p> Marijuana was found on Cruz-Torrez by corrections staff at the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach during a pat down, Davidson said. </p><p> Cruz-Torres was initially booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on $41,500 bail and was in court for his first appearance late Monday afternoon, a booking officer said.</p>